High-performance affinity chromatography and the analysis of drug interactions with modified proteins: binding of gliclazide with glycated human serum albumin

This study used high-performance affinity chromatography (HPAC) to examine the binding of gliclazide (i.e., a sulfonylurea drug used to treat diabetes) with the protein human serum albumin (HSA) at various stages of modification due to glycation. Frontal analysis conducted with small HPAC columns was first used to estimate the number of binding sites and association equilibrium constants (K _a) for gliclazide with normal HSA and glycated HSA. Both normal and glycated HSA interacted with gliclazide according to a two-site model, with a class of high-affinity sites (average K _a, 7.1–10 × 10⁴ M⁻¹) and a group of lower-affinity sites (average K _a, 5.7–8.9 × 10³ M⁻¹) at pH 7.4 and 37 °C. Competition experiments indicated that Sudlow sites I and II of HSA were both involved in these interactions, with the K _a values for gliclazide at these sites being 1.9 × 10⁴ and 6.0 × 10⁴ M⁻¹, respectively, for normal HSA. Two samples of glycated HSA had similar affinities to normal HSA for gliclazide at Sudlow site I, but one sample had a 1.9-fold increase in affinity at this site. All three glycated HSA samples differed from normal HSA in their affinity for gliclazide at Sudlow site II. This work illustrated how HPAC can be used to examine both the overall binding of a drug with normal or modified proteins and the site-specific changes that can occur in these interactions as a result of protein modification.     

Valence p functions for alkali and alkaline-earth atoms

Contracted Gaussian-type function (CGTF) basis sets are reported for valence p orbitals of the six alkali and alkaline-earth atoms Li, Be, Na, Mg, K, and Ca for molecular applications. These sets are constructed by Roothaan–Hartree–Fock calculations for the ns → np excited states of atoms, in which both linear and nonlinear parameters of CGTFs are variationally optimized. The present CGTF sets reproduce well the numerical Hartree–Fock ns → np excitation energies: the largest error is 0.0009 hartrees for Li. New CGTFs are tested with diatomic Li₂, Na₂, K₂, and MH molecules, where M = Li, Be, Na, Mg, K, and Ca, by self-consistent-field (SCF) and multiconfiguration SCF calculations. The resultant spectroscopic constants compare well with those of more elaborate calculations and are sufficiently close to experimental values, supporting the efficiency of the present set for the valence p orbitals. Received: 9 July 1998 / Accepted: 17 September 1998 / Published online: 1 February 1999     

Aqueous solution behavior of alkali-soluble polyethylene periodic polyelectrolyte, poly(ethylene- per-ethylene-per-acrylic acid)

A sequence-ordered, periodic copolymer of ethylene, ethylene, and acrylic acid, poly (ethylene-per-ethylene-per-acrylic acid) (PEEA), with M _w=1.44×10⁵ has been synthesized by alternating copolymerization of 1,3-butadiene and methyl acrylate, followed by hydrogenation and hydrolysis. Aqueous solution and dissociation properties of the alkali-soluble PEEA were explored by potentiometric titration and intrinsic viscosity at 25 °C. The pH values of PEEA were almost constant (pH = 6.48 ∼ 6.55) with an increasing degree of dissociation (α) from 0.3 to 0.8 at C _s=50 mN NaCl. Correspondingly, the plots of negative logarithm of apparent dissociation constant (pK _a) against α showed a reversed S-shape curve over the whole α, indicating an extensive precipitation and subsequent tran-sition from compact to coiled conformation. The intrinsic viscosity steeply increased with α above 0.4 up to 9.97 dl/g at α = 1.0. Good agreement between the observed electrostatic potential and that calculated from the rod model with a smeared charge density was observed in the region of α higher than 0.9. The dissociation and dissolution processes of PEEA with neutralization in water were described. Received: 14 April 1998 Accepted: 3 June 1998     

Spectrophotometric Determination of the Ionization Constants of Aqueous Nitrophenols at Temperatures up to 225 °C

The UV-visible spectra of aqueous o-, m-, and p-nitrophenol were measured as a function of pH at temperatures from 50 to 225 °C at a pressure of 7 MPa. These were used to determine equilibrium constants for the acid ionization reaction of each isomer. The new results were combined with literature data on the ionization of nitrophenols and used for parameter optimization in the thermodynamic model of Marshall and Franck (J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 10:295–304, [1981]), to describe the dependence of ionization properties on temperature and pressure. The model yields predictions of the ionization constants for o-, m-, and p-nitrophenol, log ₁₀ K _a, to at least 250 °C and 20 MPa with an estimated uncertainty in log ₁₀ K _a of less than ±0.06.     

Buffer Standards for the Physiological pH of the Zwitterionic Compound, ACES, from 5 to 55 °C

The values of the second dissociation constant, pK ₂, and related thermodynamic quantities of [N-(2-acetamido)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid] (ACES) have already been reported over the temperature range 5 to 55 °C including 37 °C. This paper reports the pa _H values of four chloride ion free buffer solutions and eight buffer solutions with I=0.16 mol⋅kg⁻¹, matching closely that of the physiological sample. Conventional pa _H values for all twelve buffer solutions from 5 to 55 °C are reported. The residual liquid-junction potential correction for two widely used temperatures, 25 and 37 °C, has been made. The flowing-junction calomel cell method has been utilized to measure E _j , the liquid-junction potential. The operational pH values for four buffer solutions at 25 and 37 °C are calculated using the physiological phosphate buffer standard based on the NBS/NIST convention. These solutions are recommended as pH standards in the pH range of 6.8 to 7.2 for physiological fluids.     

Tunable phase transition behaviors of pH-sensitive polyaspartamides having various cationic pendant groups

New pH-sensitive graft copolymers based on poly(2-hydroxyethyl aspartamide) (PHEA) were prepared by attaching various cationic monomers, such as 4-(aminomethyl)pyridine (PY), 1-(3-aminopropyl)imidazole (IM), and N-(3-aminopropyl)dibuthylamine (BU), as pH-sensitive units and octadecylamine (C₁₈) as a hydrophobic segment on poly(succinimide). Phase transition of each copolymer solution occurred at a vicinity of the pK _a value of the cationic groups, and their insoluble pH ranges were broadened as the feed amount of pH-sensitive moieties was increased. Depending on the cationic grafts having different pK _a values, the pH ranges where the copolymer became insoluble could be tuned. Copolymers PHEA-g-C₁₈-PY, PHEA-g-C₁₈-IM, and PHEA-g-C₁₈-BU exhibited phase separations in solutions at pH ranges of 4∼6, 6∼8, and 9∼12, respectively. These polymers have the unique feature of their pH sensitivity profiles being identified to three regimes. Under low pH conditions (below pK _a ), the polymer solution is transparent. At medium pH (around pK _a ), polymer precipitation occurred in solution. At pH > pK _a , the polymer solution is gradually dissolved again.     

Laws of complex formation in a series of azo-substituted pyrocatechol derivatives and their tin(II) complexes

Physicochemical properties of new reagents, azo-substituted pyrocatechol derivatives and their tin(II) complexes, are studied. The acid-base properties of the hydroxy groups (pK′_i, pK″_i), parameters of complex formation reactions (pH, temperature, time), and instability constants of the complexes formed (pK _i) are determined. Quantitative correlations between the dissociation constants (pK′_a) of the functional analytical group, and the electronic Hammett constant σ for a substituent (pK′_a-pH₅₀ of the complex formation reaction), as well as between pK′_a and instability constants of the complexes (pK _a), are established. The quantitative correlations established allow the prediction of the physicochemical properties of the reagents and tin(II) complexes with new reagents of this class with the same functional analytical group (FAG) but other substituents.     

On the stability of the bioactive flavonoids quercetin and luteolin under oxygen-free conditions

The natural flavonoid compounds quercetin (3,3′,4′,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone) and luteolin (3′,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone) are important bioactive compounds with antioxidative, anti-allergic, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, both are unstable when exposed to atmospheric oxygen, which causes degradation and complicates their analytical determinations. The oxidative change of these flavonoids was observed and followed by UV–visible spectrophotometry, both in aqueous and ethanolic solutions. The distribution of the degradation products in aqueous media was monitored by LC–MS and LC–DAD analysis. The amounts of oxidative reaction products increase with the exposure time. The oxidative degradation reduces the pharmacological efficiency of these antioxidants and renders analytical determination inaccurate. The oxidative changes in flavonoid test solutions can explain the inconsistent dissociation constants reported in the literature. Dissociation constants of quercetin and luteolin were determined both by alkalimetric titration and by UV–visible spectrophotometry under deaerated conditions. The values pK ₁ = 5.87 ± 0.14 and pK ₂ = 8.48 ± 0.09 for quercetin, and pK ₁ = 5.99 ± 0.32 and pK ₂ = 8.40 ± 0.42 for luteolin were found.     

Bioadsorption and ion exchange of Cr3+ and Pb2+ solutions with algae

Heavy metals can be removed from effluents and recovered using physico-chemical mechanisms as biosorption processes. In this work “Arribada” seaweed biomass was employed to assess its biosorptive capacity for the chromium (Cr³⁺) and lead (Pb²⁺) cations that usually are present in waste waters of plating industries. Equilibrium and kinetic experiments were conducted in a mixed reactor on a batch basis. Biosorption equilibrium and fluid-solid mass transfer constants data were analyzed through the concept of ion exchange sorption isotherm. The respective equilibrium exchange constants (K _eqCr=173.42, K _eqPb=58.86) and volumetric mass transfer coefficients ((k _mCr a)′=1.13×10⁻³ s⁻¹, (k _mPb a)′=0.89×10⁻³ s⁻¹) were employed for the dynamic analysis of Cr and Pb sorption in a fixed-bed flow-through sorption column. The breakthrough curves obtained for both metals were compared with the predicted values by the heterogeneous model (K _eqCr=171.29, K _eqPb=60.14; k _mCr a=7.81×10⁻² s⁻¹, k _mPb a=2.43×10⁻² s⁻¹), taking into account the mass transfer process. The results suggest that these algae may be employed in a metal removal/recovery process at low cost. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Buffer Standards for the Physiological pH of the Zwitterionic Compound,DIPSO, from 5 to 55 °C

The values of the second dissociation constant, pK ₂, and related thermodynamic quantities of 3-[N,N-bis (2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid (DIPSO) have already been reported over the temperature range 5 to 55 °C including 37 °C. This paper reports the pH values of four NaCl-free buffer solutions and four buffer composition containing NaCl salt at I=0.16 mol⋅kg⁻¹. Conventional pa _H values are reported for all eight buffer solutions. The operational pH values have been calculated for four buffer solutions recommended as pH standards, at 25 and 37 °C after correcting the liquid junction potentials with the flowing junction cell.     

Preparation and Crystal Structure of K2Ag12Te7

Summary.  Single crystals of K₂Ag₁₂Te₇ (a = 11.460(2), c = 4.660(1) ?; V = 530.01 ?³; space group: P6₃/m; Z = 1) were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions at 250°C in concentrated aqueous KOH solution from elementary silver and tellurium. The crystal structure is characterized by trigonal prismatic KTe₆ polyhedra, connected via two common faces to KTe₃ rods parallel to [001]. These rods are combined by two crystallographically independent Ag atoms, each coordinated to four Te and three Ag atoms (Ag–Te and Ag–Ag < 3.1 ?) to a framework of the formula (K₂Ag₁₂Te₆)^2 + and with channels parallel to the sixfold axis. These channels are statistically occupied by one further Te atom per unit cell, distributed over two independent positions. Received May 17, 2001. Accepted (revised) July 3, 2001     

Preparation and Crystal Structure of K2Ag12Te7

 Single crystals of K₂Ag₁₂Te₇ (a = 11.460(2), c = 4.660(1) ?; V = 530.01 ?³; space group: P6₃/m; Z = 1) were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions at 250°C in concentrated aqueous KOH solution from elementary silver and tellurium. The crystal structure is characterized by trigonal prismatic KTe₆ polyhedra, connected via two common faces to KTe₃ rods parallel to [001]. These rods are combined by two crystallographically independent Ag atoms, each coordinated to four Te and three Ag atoms (Ag–Te and Ag–Ag < 3.1 ?) to a framework of the formula (K₂Ag₁₂Te₆)^2 + and with channels parallel to the sixfold axis. These channels are statistically occupied by one further Te atom per unit cell, distributed over two independent positions.     

Acetylene-insertion reactions into Pt(II)–H and Pt(II)–SiH3 bonds. An ab initio MO study and analysis based on the vibronic coupling model

Acetylene insertion into Pt(II)–H and Pt(II)SiH₃ bonds of PtH(SiH₃)(PH₃) was investigated using ab initio molecular orbital and M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory methods. The insertion into PtH was predicted to proceed with a smaller activation energy (E _a =12.8 kcal/mol) than that into PtSiH₃ (E _a =20.9 kcal/mol). The reaction energy (ΔE) of the insertion into PtH is 10 kcal/mol smaller than that for the insertion into PtSiH₃, which reflects differences in bond energies between CH and CSi and between PtH and PtSiH₃. A comparison with ethylene insertion revealed that the acetylene insertion occurs more easily, and the latter reaction is more exothermic. A simple vibronic coupling model combined with Toyozawa's interaction mode analysis was used to examine interesting differences in E _a and ΔE between insertions into PtH and PtSiH₃, and between acetylene and ethylene insertions. This analysis suggests that the factors determining E _a are the stiffness of the PtH and PtSiH₃ bonds and the vibronic coupling strength of acetylene and ethylene. Received: 13 August 1998 / Accepted: 2 September 1998 / Published online: 15 February 1999     

Theoretical study on decomposition of γ-halo allylalkoxide and β-halo acrylate ions

β, γ-Substituted γ-halo allylalkoxide ions decompose to form a halogen ion, formaldehyde, and an alkyne under mild conditions, for example at room temperature. The E isomer does not differ from the Z isomer in terms of activation energy. We attempted to shed light on the mechanism of the reaction by using ab initio molecular orbital calculations. The observed propensity was confirmed by the present calculation on model molecules, γ-chloro allylalkoxide ions. We conducted further calculations and compared the alkoxide results with a similar reaction of β-haloacrylate ions that release carbon dioxide instead of formaldehyde. This similar reaction needs heating as high as 150°C. The activation energy of the acrylate ions (36–39 kcal mol⁻¹) was calculated to be about 10 kcal mol⁻¹ higher than that of the alkoxide ions. The activation energy of the E acrylate ion is smaller by 0.8 kcal mol⁻¹ than that of the Z isomer at the MP2/6-31+G**//RHF/6-31+G* level of theory. This is consistent with experimental results. While the ready deprotonation from the carboxylic group does not activate the acrylate ion very much, the alkoxide ion is destabilized to a great degree in the process of anion formation. The difficulty in deprotonation that proceeds from the neutral molecule is seen in the difference in the activation energies for the decomposition of the corresponding anions. Therefore, the pK _a of a hydroxy or a carboxylic group plays the leading role in determining the magnitude of activation energies of allyl halides with a negatively charged fragment. Received: 2 July 1998 / Accepted: 9 September 1998 / Published online: 8 February 1999     

(E)-2-Benzylidenebenzocyclanones, part VIII: spectrophotometric determination of pKa values of some natural and synthetic chalcones and their cyclic analogues

Abstract  

UV–Vis spectrophotometry was used to determine acid dissociation constant (pK _a) values of the natural flavonoids phloretin, phlorizin, naringenin, and naringin, as well as 4′-hydroxychalcone, 4′-(dimethylamino)chalcone, and their cyclic analogues. Comparison of the results with those previously reported for the natural flavonoids showed the applied method is a relatively straightforward and easy-to-perform technique for the determination of pK _a values of compounds with relatively low solubility. Comparative analysis of the pK _a values of the synthetic chalcones showed a strong correlation between the degree of conjugation and the acid strength of the respective compounds with different geometry. Our results provide further evidence that modification of the three-dimensional structure of open-chain bioactive compounds is the method of choice to modify not only their stereochemistry but also their physicochemical properties.     

Effect of pH and ionic strength on the interaction of humic acid with aluminium oxide

The effect of pH and neutral electrolyte on the interaction between humic acid/humate and γ-AlOOH (boehmite) was investigated. The quantitative characterization of surface charging for both partners was performed by means of potentiometric acid–base titration. The intrinsic equilibrium constants for surface charge formation were logK _a,1 ^int=6.7±0.2 and logK _a,2 ^int = 10.6±0.2 and the point of zero charge was 8.7±0.1 for aluminium oxide. The pH-dependent solubility and the speciation of dissolved aluminium was calculated (MINTEQA2). The fitted (FITEQL) pK values for dissociation of acidic groups of humic acid were pK ₁ = 3.7±0.1 and pK ₂ = 6.6±0.1 and the total acidity was 4.56 mmol g⁻¹. The pH range for the adsorption study was limited to between pH 5 and 10, where the amount of the aluminium species in the aqueous phase is negligible (less than 10⁻⁵ mol dm⁻³) and the complicating side equilibria can be neglected. Adsorption isotherms were determined at pH ∼ 5.5, ∼8.5 and ∼9.5, where the surface of adsorbent is positive, neutral and negative, respectively, and at 0.001, 0.1, 0.25 and 0.50 mol dm⁻³ NaNO₃. The isotherms are of the Langmuir type, except that measured at pH ∼ 5.5 in the presence of 0.25 and 0.5 mol dm⁻³ salt. The interaction between humic acid/humate and aluminium oxide is mainly a ligand-exchange reaction with humic macroions with changing conformation under the influence of the charged interface. With increasing ionic strength the surface complexation takes place with more and more compressed humic macroions. The contribution of Coulombic interaction of oppositely charged partners is significant at acidic pH. We suppose heterocoagulation of humic acid and aluminium oxide particles at pH ∼ 5.5 and higher salt content to explain the unusual increase in the apparent amount of humic acid adsorbed. Received: 20 July 1999 /Accepted in revised form: 20 October 1999     

Re-evaluation of the First and Second Stoichiometric Dissociation Constants of Oxalic Acid at Temperatures from 0 to 60 °C in Aqueous Oxalate Buffer Solutions with or without Sodium or Potassium Chloride

Equations were developed for the calculation of the first stoichiometric (molality scale) dissociation constant (K _m1) of oxalic acid in buffer solutions containing oxalic acid, potassium hydrogen oxalate, and potassium chloride from the determined thermodynamic values of this dissociation constant (K _a1) and the molalities of the components in the solutions. Similar equations were also developed for the second stoichiometric dissociation constant (K _m2) of this acid in buffer solutions containing sodium or potassium hydrogen oxalate, oxalate and chloride. These equations apply at temperatures from 0 to 60 °C up to ionic strengths of 1.0 mol⋅kg⁻¹ and they have been based on single-ion activity coefficient equations of the Hückel type. For the equations for K _m1, the activity parameters of oxalate species and the K _a1 values were determined at various temperatures from the Harned cell data of a recent tetroxalate buffer paper (Juusola et al., J. Chem. Eng. Data 52:973–976, 2007). By using the resulting equations for K _m1, the activity parameters of oxalate species for K _m2 and the K _a2 values were then determined from the new Harned cell data and from those of Pinching and Bates (J. Res. Natl. Bur. Stand. (U.S.) 40:405–416, 1948) for solutions of sodium or potassium oxalates with NaCl or KCl. The resulting simple equations for calculation of K _m1 and K _m2 for oxalic acid were tested with all important thermodynamic data available in the literature for this purpose. The equations for ln (K _a1) and ln (K _a2) are of the form ln (K _a)=a+b(t/°C)+c(t/°C)². The coefficients for ln (K _a1) are the following: a=−2.8737, b=0.000159, and c=−0.00009. The corresponding coefficients for ln (K _a2) are −9.6563, −0.003059, and −0.000125, respectively. The new activity coefficient equations were used to evaluate the pH values of the tetroxalate buffer solution (i.e., of the 0.05 mol⋅kg⁻¹ KH₃C₄O₈ solution) for comparison with the pH values recommended by IUPAC at temperatures from 0 to 60 °C and to develop a new two-component oxalate pH buffer of 0.01 mol⋅kg⁻¹ KHC₂O₄+0.05 mol⋅kg⁻¹ Na₂C₂O₄ for which pH values are given from 0 to 60  °C. Values of p(m _H) calculated from these equations are tabulated for these buffers as well as for buffer solutions with KCl and KH₃C₄O₈ as the major component and minor component, respectively. Tables of p(m _H) are also presented for 0.001 mol⋅kg⁻¹ KHC₂O₄+0.005 mol⋅kg⁻¹ Na₂C₂O₄ solutions in which KCl is the supporting electrolyte.     

Catalytic and Thermodynamic Characterization of Endoglucanase (CMCase) from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus oryzae</Emphasis> cmc-1

Monomeric extracellular endoglucanase (25 kDa) of transgenic koji (Aspergillus oryzae cmc-1) produced under submerged growth condition (7.5 U mg⁻¹ protein) was purified to homogeneity level by ammonium sulfate precipitation and various column chromatography on fast protein liquid chromatography system. Activation energy for carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) hydrolysis was 3.32 kJ mol⁻¹ at optimum temperature (55 °C), and its temperature quotient (Q ₁₀) was 1.0. The enzyme was stable over a pH range of 4.1–5.3 and gave maximum activity at pH 4.4. V _max for CMC hydrolysis was 854 U mg⁻¹ protein and K _m was 20 mg CMC ml⁻¹. The turnover (k _cat) was 356 s⁻¹. The pK _a1 and pK _a2 of ionisable groups of active site controlling V _max were 3.9 and 6.25, respectively. Thermodynamic parameters for CMC hydrolysis were as follows: ΔH* = 0.59 kJ mol⁻¹, ΔG* = 64.57 kJ mol⁻¹ and ΔS* = −195.05 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹, respectively. Activation energy for irreversible inactivation ‘E _a(d)’ of the endoglucanase was 378 kJ mol⁻¹, whereas enthalpy (ΔH*), Gibbs free energy (ΔG*) and entropy (ΔS*) of activation at 44 °C were 375.36 kJ mol⁻¹, 111.36 kJ mol⁻¹ and 833.06 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹, respectively.     

Characterization of a Thermostable Family 1 Glycosyl Hydrolase Enzyme from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Putranjiva roxburghii</Emphasis> Seeds

A 66-kDa thermostable family 1 Glycosyl Hydrolase (GH1) enzyme with β-glucosidase and β-galactosidase activities was purified to homogeneity from the seeds of Putranjiva roxburghii belonging to Euphorbiaceae family. N-terminal and partial internal amino acid sequences showed significant resemblance to plant GH1 enzymes. Kinetic studies showed that enzyme hydrolyzed p-nitrophenyl β-d-glucopyranoside (pNP-Glc) with higher efficiency (K _cat/K _m = 2.27 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ s⁻¹) as compared to p-nitrophenyl β-d-galactopyranoside (pNP-Gal; K _cat/K _m = 1.15 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ s⁻¹). The optimum pH for β-galactosidase activity was 4.8 and 4.4 in citrate phosphate and acetate buffers respectively, while for β-glucosidase it was 4.6 in both buffers. The activation energy was found to be 10.6 kcal/mol in the temperature range 30–65 °C. The enzyme showed maximum activity at 65 °C with half life of ~40 min and first-order rate constant of 0.0172 min⁻¹. Far-UV CD spectra of enzyme exhibited α, β pattern at room temperature at pH 8.0. This thermostable enzyme with dual specificity and higher catalytic efficiency can be utilized for different commercial applications.     

Design of Biosolvents Through Hydroxyl Functionalization of Compounds with High Dielectric Constant

We proposed basic principles for biosolvent design on the viewpoint of ionization. Two classes of biosolvents, based on cyclic carbonate moiety and amide moiety, were designed through hydroxyl functionalization of highly dielectric compound. The newly designed compounds, glycerol carbonate (GC) and N-hydroxymethyl formamide (HOF), were synthesized for the development of soluble enzymatic systems and characterized by ¹³C NMR and ¹H NMR. All the characterization data were consistent with the expected structures. Using conductance measurements, the pK _a values of trichloroacetic acid in GC and HOF were determined as 0.80 and 0.85 at 25.0 °C, which was very close to that in water (pK _a = 0.70), suggesting that the ionizing and dissociating abilities of GC and HOF are similar to those of water. The effects of various reaction parameters on activity and stability of Candida antarctica lipase B and lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia were investigated using the transesterification of ethyl butyrate with n-butanol as a model reaction. The activities of lipases in GC and HOF were comparable to those in water, indicating that the newly designed compounds were biocompactible. Biosolvent design is a promising and versatile method for developing new biosolvents.